OMIGOSH... I use to knit with THAT?!

Fri, 2010-05-28 11:35 — DeceptiveCookie

So... I recently decided that it was time to start going into my bins of yarn and doing an inventory of what I have on hand... It's funny, your knitting life really gets put into perspective, especially the farther back I delved into my bins and bins and bins of yarn!

The last bin shocked me the most... it was full of Lion Brand, Caron, and Red heart! Everything was Acrylic, and I had subconsciouly tucked it all away in the back of my closet... it even had my remnants of yarn from my ill-fated homespun sweater! Some of the yarn I don't even remember purchasing... or what I made with it originally... Like Ribbon yarn... what the heck did I make with that Ribbon yarn!?

Needless to say... I've started looking for local charities or groups that can use the stuff. I don't see myself needing any of it anytime soon (and if I did, the stuff is so readily available it wouldn't kill me to just go out and buy it).

I thought it was just funny how my boxes progressed from Acrylics to the "good stuff," it's only been 7 years since I started knitting and I'm surprised at how much I've amassed. The pictures below are only a sampling of what i came across...

Once I've found a place to donate all that yarn, I'll have a whole bin to fill with new stuff :)

Comments

I just finished an enormous afghan made with Caron One Pound skeins (7 of them) that I would never have made in wool. It lives on the sofa with a dog and needs to stand up to washing. I had to use an industrial fabric softener to take the scratch factor out of it (live and learn). I also made a lacy baby afghan that I expect to get used quite a bit by the recipient so I used a soft, easy care acrylic. It is fabulous and really soft (no softener needed).

I think there are tons of things that really NEED to be made with acrylic or acrylic blends. I've knitted and crocheted for over 30 years and while I did spend a great deal of time being a yarn snob, I also spent that time watching my yarn, time, and eyesight go to waste at the hands of an end user who didn't take the time to care for items properly.

Now my snobbery revolves NOT around what yarn to avoid, but knowing what yarn to use based on the function and care levels of the finished object.

There are some terrific acrylics out there right now. Vanna's Choice and Vanna's Choice Baby are both super soft and knit up beautifully. Caron Simply Soft is true to the name. Also there is a yarn called James C. Brett Marble Chunky that feels to amazing in the hand, you'd swear it's not an acrylic. If you see it, pick it up and enjoy.

Most of my stash is wool (alpaca, cashmere, merino, superwash), soy, bamboo, cotton, hemp, and tencel. But I do have my go-to acrylics for things like dog beds and dog sweaters, baby items, and techie sleeves (cozies for smartphones, Kindles, Nooks, iPads, iPods, laptops, etc). It's like a box of crayons, really. I won't settle for the 8 pack box. I want the big one! :-)

Shoooooot I've only been knitting since November and I have become a total yarn snob! In fact the first skeins of yarn I ever bought were gray TWEED...itchy and scratchy to the extreme...and I still have two skeins of it. Before I come back to the states im just dumping them in the clothing and shoe donation bins they have on every street corner here in Germany. I'm sure some German Hausfrau can find a use for tweed, but it does not belong in my presence! :-P

I keep some acrylic readily available for charity blankets, hats, everyday baby items. Its ease of care is great for homeless, baby accidents, and hats for those snowy play days. When I knit for myself or someone I know who knows about yarn (we are called "yarn snobs") I try to use upscale yarns. My wife says I don't care to be seen with cheap yarn anymore.

I'm afraid I have many times that amount...and should get it together to donate.
I was on a scarf knitting binge two years ago...and bought a lot of cones of unknown stuff on ebay. Much of it beautiful...but I'm mostly knitting with wool now.

while i don't have bin after bin (just a deep deep project bag), i had the same experience while rooting about to the bottom of my bag a few weeks ago... eyelash yarn?!? did i really make an eyelash scarf?!?